Improvement in metallic ties for railways



u. L. De ZENG.

4 Metallic Ti es for Railways. N0.l55,369, Patented se t.29,ya74.

I mm Momm THE GRAPHIC CO. PHUY'LITHjSM PARK PLACE,N.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. DE ZENG, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC TIES FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,369, dated September 29, 1874 application filed March 3, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. DE ZENG, of Geneva, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Metallic Gross-Ties for Railways, of which the following is a specification:

This improvement is designed for preventing end movement of the tie and lateral displacement of the rails. I make use of an inverted trough-shaped tie with open ends and external wings. Thelatter prevent end motion of the tie after the track is ballasted, and the open ends of the tie allow the earth to be rammed into the tie for filling the same, and consoli dating the bed beneath the tie.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an end view of the cross-tie with the railway-bar upon it. Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, of the cross-tie near one end thereof, and Fig. 4 represents the sheet metal as cut, previous to being bent up to form the crosstie.

The plate or sheet of metal is of the required size, and is cut or slit at each end with two incisions, 3 3, and the intermediate pieces I) are turned back upon the under surface of the plate a. The plate is then bent to form the vertical longitudinal flanges c 0, so that the cross tie assumes the form of an inverted trough. The projecting ends 6 e are then bent at right angles to the cross-tie, or nearly so, to form steadyiug-wings. The lip 1', clip I, and wedge n, for holding the rail, are similar to those shown in my patent No. 145,991.

It will now be evident that the cross-tie, formed as aforesaid out of sheet metal, is very strong and light; and the end pieces b, folded under the surface of the tie at the ends, serve to strengthen the ends of the tie; and the win gs e eliectually prevent end motion of the tie, and keep the tracks in position laterally, especially after the track has been ballasted, or filled in between the ties. The open ends of the cross-ties allow earth to be rammed into such ties, so as to consolidate the bearing for the same, and raise the track, if it becomes necessary, for bringing the rails to the proper level and grade.

I claim as my i1Wention The metallic cross-tie, made with the folded end pieces I) and the wings e e at the ends of the vertical flanges c c, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 25th day of February, A. D. 1874.

HENRY L. DE ZENG.

Witnesses:

PHILO H. BEMIS, E. J. BURRALL. 

